PITTSFORD — The color of Shaq Thompson’s uniform changed, as did his jersey number. But training camp doesn’t feel any different.
After 10 seasons in Carolina, the linebacker signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. It’s the first time in his career playing for a team different from the one that drafted him 24th overall in 2015.
One reason Thompson feels comfortable is that many of the faces he sees around St. John Fisher University are familiar. A lot of faces.
General manager Brandon Beane helped draft him as Carolina’s assistant GM, while linebackers coach Al Holcomb was with Thompson for six years. Special teams coach Chris Tabor, offensive coordinator Joe Brady and wide receiver Curtis Samuel all crossed paths with Thompson at some point during his time with the Panthers.
And then there is coach Sean McDermott, who was Carolina’s defensive coordinator during Thompson’s first two seasons. What changes does Thompson see in McDermott during their eight years apart?
“He’s calmed down a little bit.”
Another difference for Thompson is that he’s used to being a starter. He’s 31 and coming off a torn ACL and torn Achilles tendon injuries that limited him to six games over the last two years, with the Achilles rehab preventing him from participating at minicamp.
Thompson feels completely healthy now, but his days as a full-time first-teamer might still be finished after starting all but nine of his 123 career games. It won’t be due simply to age and injuries, but because the Bills have their starting linebackers, Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano, locked into place.
Considering the injury histories to both players, Thompson may eventually get a chance to play or if the Bills opt to play more often with three linebackers. But for the first time since college, when he was a puzzle piece for Washington, playing running back, linebacker, safety and slot cornerback, Thompson entered training camp without a defined role.
“I’ve got to earn my role, man,” Thompson told GNN Sports after practice Friday. “… I’m here to back up one of them, all three of them, Dorian (Williams), whoever. Everybody’s here to make the team. Everybody besides (Bernard and Milano). … I’ve been in the league for 11 years. I know how to play my role and I know what they want from a vet.”
Making Thompson a starter isn’t why the Bills signed him anyways. The Bills love to have a veteran on the roster or practice squad with knowledge of McDermott’s defense, oftentimes players from his Carolina days. A.J. Klein, Dean Marlowe and Josh Norman have played the part in the past.
Thompson was adamant that most of the defense was the same as when McDermott ran it in Carolina. Natural evolution to the scheme and terminology might have tweaked it a bit over time, but Thompson doesn’t have to learn the playbook from scratch.
“Shaq’s the ultimate pro,” Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said. “… We know there’s some rust to knock off. But he’s a joy. … I’d never been with him before. I’ve always watched him from afar. So it’s great to have him here.”
Practice notes
Right tackle Spencer Brown (back), tight end Dawson Knox (hamstring), wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (lower leg strain) and center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (calf) did not practice for the third consecutive day. Joining them were defensive end A.J. Epenesa (ankle) and linebacker Dorian Williams (calf) after both left practice early Thursday.
Epenesa had his right ankle taped and Williams wore a walking boot on his right foot. Receiver David White (personal) also didn’t practice, while defensive tackle Zion Logue returned after missing Thursday for undisclosed reasons.
• Offensive lineman Alec Anderson and defensive end Hayden Harris accounted for the first tussle of camp. Anderson, who was part of a few scrums last year, was sent to the locker room afterwards. He returned when practice finished and both players apologized.
• Receiver Keon Coleman had an uneven day. He caught a touchdown pass on a leaping grab after cornerback Tre’Davious White slipped. He also dropped a pass after beating White on an in-breaking route and couldn’t snap a jump ball that was a bit high in front of cornerback Maxwell Hairston.
• Hairston got a few first-team reps, but most of them went to White. Cole Bishop remained at safety with the first-team defense, often alongside Damar Hamlin, who subbed in as Taylor Rapp was given more frequent rest in team sessions.
• Bernard also rested late in 11-on-11 work, with Baylon Spector joining the starters in his place instead of Joe Andreessen, who has filled that spot since the spring.
• Tylan Grable and Ryan Van Demark split time at right tackle with Brown sidelined. They have been rotating through the first three days of camp.
The Bills are off Saturday. They return to practice at 9:45 a.m. Sunday.